Russell Reid Ortiz Bio Info

Russell Reid Ortiz...married to Stacy and the couple have two daughters, Grace (7/30/01) and Lillian (2/8/04)...graduated from Montclair
Prep in Van Nuys and went on to attend the University of Oklahoma...helped the Sooners to the 1994 College World Series championship,
posting three saves that season...was very active in the San Francisco community during his time there, participating in a mentoring
program, hosting baseball clinics and taking part in several local initiatives...hosted a celebrity bowling tournament while with the
Diamondbacks in 2005...visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with the Diamondbacks...signed by Giants' scout Mike Keenan.2009Went 3-6 with a 5.57 ERA (53 ER/85.2 IP) in 23 games (13 starts) for the Astros...As a starter, went 2-5 with a 6.61 ERA and in 10 relief outings, went 1-1 with a 2.49 mark...Released by the Astros on July 30 and cleared waivers on Aug. 4...Signed with the Yankees on Aug. 6 and then was released on Aug. 17...then signed with Colorado on Aug. 23, before being released
on Sept. 7...did not appear in the big leagues with the Yankees or Rockies...Made the Astros with an impressive Grapefruit League season, going 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in eight games (four starts)...led the club
during the spring with 30.1 IP and 23 strikeouts...Had a great month of June, posting a 1.91 ERA (7 ER/33.0 IP)...Originally signed with the Astros as a free agent on Jan. 13 after missing all of 2008 with an elbow injury.2008Did not play professional baseball.2007Made 12 appearances (8 starts) in return engagement with the San Francisco Giants...Went 2-3 with a 5.51 ERA in 49 IP.2006Endured nightmare season, going combined 0-8 with 8.14 ERA (57er, 63.0ip) in 26 games (11 starts) for Arizona and Baltimore...was 0-5 with 7.54 ERA in 6 starts with Diamondbacks, while receiving only 18 total runs of support (just 5 while he was on mound)...landed on Disabled List April 24-June 6 with strained right calf...made 2 starts following activation, losing both, and was designated for assignment June 13...following June 21 release, signed with Orioles June 25...made Baltimore and AL debut July 1 at Atlanta in starting role...logged 5 opening assignments with O's, but worked 15 times out of bullpen...tossed 4.1 innings July 29 vs. White Sox, 1st relief outing since July 13, 2000...became 1st pitcher since Ron Davis in 1986 to post ERA over 7.50 in both AL and NL in same season (at least 20.0 innings in each season)...also became just 2nd pitcher in baseball history to lose all 8 decisions in season and post ERA over 8.00...Ed O'Neil went combined 0-8 with 9.26 ERA in 1890 for Toledo and Philadelphia...pitched in Puerto Rico Winter League to regain form, and fashioned 2-1 mark with 3.19 ERA in 7 games (6 starts) for Manati.2005Was limited to just 22 starts in 1st season with Diamondbacks, including 1st-ever trip to Disabled List...opened campaign with 2-1 record and 3.60 ERA over 5 April starts, and was 4-2 through 1st 9 outings...however, scuffled to 1-9 mark with 8.22 ERA over his final 13 opening assignments...was on DL June 16-Aug. 13 with stress fracture in his right rib cage...following pair of rehab starts at triple-A Tucson and one with single-A Lancaster, rejoined Arizona for Aug. 13 start at Atlanta...defeated San Diego Aug. 29 to snap personal 6-game losing streak.2004Enjoyed solid season as key cog for Atlanta's 13th consecutive division titile...equalled career high with 34 starts and surpassed 200-inning mark for 5th time in career, while his 15 victories matched Jaret Wright for tops on staff...stopper posted 7-1 mark in games following Braves loss...overall, Atlanta played .647 ball (22-12) in his opening assignments...made 1st career Opening Day start, but fell to Mets...retired final 17 Expos faced and 22 of final 23 batters en route to complete game, 6-1 victory at Montreal May 25...was named NL Pitcher of Month for July after going 5-0 with 1.67 ERA...earned 100th career victory (in his 200th start) with 7.0-shutout innings in 1-0 Atlanta triumph July 28 at Pittsburgh...tossed 2nd career 3-hitter and 3rd career shutout with 9-0 blanking at Montreal Sept. 4, carrying perfect game into 6th inning...recorded 1,000th career strikeout during Sept. 24 outing vs. Florida, fanning Luis Castillo in 1st inning.2003Paced NL with career-high 21 wins, 3 more than any other senior circuit hurler...also tied for 2nd in loop with .750 winning percentage, while tying for 4th by yielding just .223 opponents batting avg....selected to 1st career All-Star Game, and pitched scoreless inning at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field...had career best 8-game winning streak from June 18-July 29...finished year on tear, going 14-3 with 3.84 ERA over his last 19 starts...blanked Marlins and drove in game's lone run in 1-0 victory Sept. 19...was only complete game shutout for Atlanta in 2003 and marked 1st time Braves pitcher had hurled 1-0 route-going effort and supplied game's only RBI since Phil Niekro stopped Astros Sept. 20, 1974 at Houston...went 1-1 with 5.06 ERA in pair of NLDS starts vs. Cubs...suffered 4-2 loss in Game 1...however, came back on 3 days rest to earn 6-4, Game 4 win at Wrigley Field...limited Chicago to 2 runs over 5.0 innings.2002Was outstanding during final season of 1st SF stint, sharing staff lead in wins (14) and starts (33)...also ranked 2nd on club with careerhigh 214.1 innings pitched, while finishing 2nd with 137 strikeouts...worked at least 6.0 innings in 27 of 33 starts (81.8%), while yielding 3 earned runs-or-less in 25 of 33 efforts (75/8%)...became Giants' top pitcher during stretch drive, ending campaign with 6-start winning streak and 2.34 ERA...in fact, logged 2.62 ERA in his last 11 starts (beginning Aug. 1)...ranked among top NL pitchers at plate in avg. (5th - .249), hits (4th - 17), 2Bs (T1st - 5), HRs (T2nd - 2) and RBI (3rd - 9)...continued late regular season run with strong post season effort, going 2-0 with 5.76 ERA over 5 playoff starts...provided both victories against Braves during NLDS...outdueled Tom Glavine for Game 1 victory at Turner Field, then came back to Atlanta for 3-1, SF victory in decisive Game 5...yielded just 1 run in 5.1 innings...garnered no decisions in Game 3 of NLCS vs. St. Louis and World Series Game 2 at Anaheim...took ball for Game 6 of Fall Classic and worked 6.1 stellar innings at Anaheim, departing with 5-0 lead and 2 men on in 7th...however, Angels rallied for 6-5 victory.2001Posted 17-9 record with 3.29 ERA to guide Giants pitching staff...SF was 20-13 (.606) in his 33 starts...led club in wins and strikeouts (169), while ranking 2nd in innings (218.2) and 3rd in starts...in fact, tied for 5th in NL for wins, while finishing 7th in ERA, 10th in winning pct. (.654), 6th in batting avg. against (.232), 5th in home ERA (2.49) and 6th in night ERA (3.20)...also tied for 4th in senior circuit with 9 road victories...posted 1st career shutout July 23, blanking visiting Colorado 10-0...took no-hitter through 6.2 innings Aug. 21 at Montreal, en route to 10-2 triumph and 50th career win...was excellent down stretch, going 10-5 with 2.88 ERA (45er, 140.2ip) over his final 21 starts...with bat, led all NL pitchers with 6 2Bs...batted .194 (13-for-67) with 6 RBI.2000Experienced both ends of spectrum, becoming one of Giants' most reliable starters in 2nd half after miserable start...was removed from rotation at start of 2nd half, but was reinserted following Joe Nathan's injury and went 10-4 with 3.22 ERA (36er, 100.2ip) in 16 outings (15 starts) following All-Star Break...by contrast, went 3-8 with 7.55 ERA (73er, 87.0ip) in last 16 starts of 1st half...garnered victory in 16-10 SF triumph May 21 at Milwaukee, becoming 1st winning pticher to surrender 10 runs since Pittsburgh's Bob Friend, May 2, 1954 (18-10 win over Cubs)...struck out career high 12 Astros June 25, and matched that with dozen punchouts Aug. 30 at Pittsburgh...had career-best 7-game winning streak Aug. 3-Sept. 4, during which he posted 0.96 ERA (5er, 46.2ip)...was named NL Pitcher of Month for August, going 6-0 with 1.12 ERA (5er, 40.1ip)...became 1st SF pitcher to win 6 games in month since Rick Reuschel went 6-0 in May, 1989...started Game 3 of NLDS vs. Mets at Shea Stadium, allowing 1 run in 5.1 innings of Giants' eventual 3-2, 13-inning defeat.1999Became SF's top winner in 1st full big league season, going 18-9 with 3.81 ERA...ranked among NL leaders in wins (T4th), complete games (T9th - 3) and batting avg. against (7th - .244)...however, led circuit in walks (125) and was tied for 3rd with 13 wild pitches...led Giants staff in wins, starts (33), complete games, innings (207.2) and strikeouts (164)...SF logged 22-11 mark (.667) when he took hill...tossed 1st career complete game April 23 vs. Colorado, yielding 6 his in 7-2 SF victory...also tossed 6-hitter in 4-1, route-going win July 5 at San Diego...ended campaign by going distance in 9-4 triumph Oct. 1 at Colorado.1998Spent majority of 2nd half with Giants after being on shuttle between SF and triple-A Fresno prior to All-Star Break...had 4 stints overall with big club (March 31-April 25, May 25-June 3, June 20-July 4 and July 14-end of season)...made 1st Opening Day roster, being recalled prior to March 31 game at Houston when Osvaldo Fernandez landed on DL...was 4-4 with 5.71 ERA (48er, 75.2ip) as starter, but fashioned 0.75 mark (1er, 12.0ip) in 8 relief outings...made ML debut April 2 at Houston, tossing 2.0-scoreless relief innings...picked up 1st big league win Aug. 5 at New York, working 8.0-plus innings...tossed 5.0 innings in Sept. 24 victory over Pittsburgh, while also clubbing 1st ML HR (off Elmer Dessens)...was named "Harry S. Jordan Award" winner, annual honor accorded to best 1st time player in Giants ML Spring Training camp in vote by teammates.1997Made transition from reliever to starter, and split campaign between double- A Shreveport and triple-A Phoenix...opened year in Texas League, going 2-3 with 4.13 ERA in 12 starts...was promoted to Pacific Coast League June 21...won pair of starts for Firebirds in PCL playoffs.1996Split year between single-A San Jose and Shreveport, combining for 1-2 record with 36 saves and 1.85 ERA (13er, 63.1ip) in 60 appearances...save total was only 2 short of top mark in minors...ranked 2nd in California League with 23 saves at SJ to earn in-season All-Star honors...pitched for West Oahu in Hawaiian Winter League following season.1995Opened professional career at rookie-level Bellingham, helping club to North Division championship...led league with 12 saves, going 2-0 with stingy 0.35 ERA...was selected by opposing managers as Northwest League's 9th-best prospect...earned late-season promotion to San Jose, working in 5 regular season games and 5 playoff contests.